Although L.A. Noire is great on both systems, it's best on the PlayStation 3. With improved performance, better frame rate and an added case, this is certainly the version of the game to get. The strong cast of characters, compelling storyline and ambitious sense of scope makes this one of Rockstar Games' best products yet. Just remember to switch to black and white!

Okami HD is a beautiful and enjoyable game and I’m glad I finally got the chance to play through it. You now have three ways to use the Celestial Brush and each way has certain instances where it might work better than the other two. Between the great cel-shaded graphics and relaxing music and atmosphere, Okami HD is an amazing game that fans and newcomers to the game should check out.

As a video game reviewer, it's very rare I've ever awarded a perfect score. The last two games I awarded with that score were The Witcher 3 and God of War. I say this just to emphasize how It Takes Two really is, in my view, the perfect co-op experience. At least, it's the closest to perfection that I've had the joy to experience to date.

Hideo Kojima once again proves to be a singular creative force in the video game industry, crafting a sequel in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach that is not just essential for fans of the first game, but an essential experience for all gamers.

What’s interesting about Far Cry is that it is a linear game without being overly linear. You have to address all of the problems and puzzles in the game in a specified order but how you address them is up to you.

It's not without a few flaws, but those who go exploring around Dead Space will find it to be a fascinating survival horror game with an amazing presentation.

Resident Evil Requiem is one of the best, if not the best, Resident Evil games I’ve ever played. And I mean ever. The controls, the level(s) of difficulty, the characters, and the story are all immersive. The only thing I wanted to put down are those zombies. Capcom has done it again.

Dispatch is possibly the greatest narrative game ever made, if only they could smooth out the actual dispatching. I absolutely love this world, this story, and these characters. I just don't like the parts where I am scripted to fail, and I further don't like that those parts ultimately don't matter. Whatever, ignore my whining. This is a great game.

It's the next level of multiplayer team warfare with an incredible engine powering it. Get a good PC and enjoy some of the best multiplayer action out there. The bugs can sometimes kick you out of the game. A ton of unlocks will have you playing a long time to get them all. The single player portion is pretty linear and not that interesting.

If you want an early taste of Halloween (or late, depending on when you're reading this), and are looking for a new table to add to your collection, The Sorcerer's Lair is a solid choice. However, it's only one table, so you'll be on the prowl for new ones sooner rather than later.

Limbo is an instant classic regardless of the platform you choose. The vita version in particular suits the portable aspect of the system well and it looks and plays amazing on the gorgeous OLED screen. Do yourself a favor and pick it up and don’t forget to bring along a good pair of headphones.

Red Matter 2 is an amazing follow-up to one of the best games on the original PS VR. With the best graphics on the PS VR2, incredible environmental puzzles and storytelling, and one of the most polished control schemes on the market, Vertical Robot again shows why it is among the very best VR developers. If you are at all interested in VR gaming, Red Matter 2 is a game not to be missed.

It didn’t matter that I’d never designed a game before, didn’t matter that I’m not much of an artist, didn’t matter that I can only play music and not compose it. From the very beginning, I felt welcomed by Dreams.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is an incredible gaming experience. Whe game isn't the "best" in terms of any one of its individual traits, it is really good at all of them... resulting in one of the best games of our generation. Though it is unlikely that its accolades and status will ever eclipse that of the original Deus Ex, it definitely stands as a worthy successor in the series.

While excellent, Vampire Survivors it is still an overly simple game. This is also pretty much a straightforward port across to a new system. There is nothing unique about this version vs any previous medium the game has landed on. But it remains unpretentious and excellent fun, is dirt cheap to jump into, and lays out the roadmap to play through it while drip feeding progress adeptly. It deserves to land as close to perfect as our scoring system permits.

Chronicles of Riddick literally came out of nowhere to mesmerize us with its polished gameplay, immersive plot and unique gameplay elements.

Polyphony Digital delivers the most comprehensive and realistic simulation racing experience that the market has ever seen, it’s just a shame that the same boat and RV show has begun to run its course.

If you are looking for a time sink of an RPG with a strong sense of setting and character, then look no further, because Dragon Age: Inquisition is a Game of the Year candidate.

Only fans of the band need apply as it is strictly Beatles content on this one.

You can look at the pictures, read my review, and watch videos, but not until you actually go through the game and see what it has to offer will you ever understand what everybody is so excited about.

L.A. Noire is an intelligent game with stellar acting, game changing technology and a cast of memorable characters. It's also Rockstar Games' most refined product, making it one of the best games this high profile company has ever published.

Peggle proves to be another fantastic Xbox Live Arcade game, full of great puzzles, fun characters, cool power-ups and an exciting multiplayer mode.

Good game design is good game design, regardless of age or platform. Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2 takes the levels from the amazing original PS1 titles, and blows out the scope in every direction. Adding a ton of modernizing touches without ever losing sight of what makes these games great, THPS 1+2 is a riotous success. Lock in for some extended play sessions, and get your blister band-aids ready because this game is additive beyond belief.

Not only are the graphics as good as they can be, but the game sports some of the most compelling game modes found in a fighting game.

By far the strangest game I've ever played, and it is also one of the most enjoyable games I have ever played.

I'm no artist, but I had fun with Colors 3D. Even though there are a couple things I wish were incorporated that were not, checking out the gallery made me realize the potential of this program. For only $6.99, it's definitely one to recommend to pass the time if you like to draw and paint.

I got on the hype train early for this one, and I must say that Guerrilla Games delivers a nearly flawless gem of a game. Horizon: Zero Dawn is an exceptional title from start to finish and is an absolute must for any gamer, old or new.

A wonderful PC port, Ghost of Tsushima is one of the best PlayStation games to come around on the PC side. This is one that you'll enjoy, especially if you're a fan of classic samurai stories.

Naughty Dog delivers again with its timeless masterclass narrative experience, this time rebuilt from the ground up following contemporary gaming standards. With modern graphics and unparalleled performance, The Last of Us Part I is the definitive way to enjoy the multilayered and complex story of Joel and Ellie. It remains a genre-bending action survival game that challenges the status-quo by weaving together multiple elements. An expanded array of accessibility options, gameplay modifiers, and extra modes allows this remake to be experienced by anyone from any background and that’s not an easy feat.

Don't be afraid of the different route this sequel took, Burnout Paradise is every bit as exhilarating as you could hope for.

Dusk has the backwoods setting of Blood and Redneck Rampage, the forbidding atmosphere and murky palette of Quake, the tight, sharp action of Doom, and the subtle sense of place and interactivity of Duke Nukem 3D. Essentially, Dusk is a retro shooter fan’s dream come true.

Sitting down for even ten minutes with Neon White makes me feel like I’ve gotten a lot of playing time in. Stages are fast, and replaying them when things don’t go your way doesn’t feel like a drag. The addictive nature of Neon White meant I was going back to the same stages again and again until I was able to ace them. The story isn’t for me, and feels predictable, but I can see how it might hit the right crowd. The easy to learn gameplay, with the unique weapon cards made for an experience I couldn't get enough of.

Monster Hunter Wilds delivers a ton of incredible new content, buried underneath the usual UI nightmare plus a long, interminable campaign. The new features of the game are fun and exciting once the game opens up, and there are a ton of awesome new monsters to battle. The graphics, as always, are stunning. But wading through the mud of this story for 15-20 hours is downright painful, and the franchise's tradition of not explaining itself is getting extremely old. There is a fabulous Monster Hunter game here, but sooner or later this franchise is going to have to wake up to the need to wipe the slate clean and open the doors for new players. Instead, Monster Hunter Wilds feels like it is going in the other direction.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is a suitable end to the Modern Warfare series, assuming this is as far as Infinity Ward takes the storyline. Every piece of the formula that has been used in the past game is here and accounted for and has been refined to a "T". As long as you don't expect anything more than what you are used to, you should be more than happy with the game.

Simply the greatest military game ever released to the public... Brothers in Arms will teach you that war is anything but glorious, it is about doing what you have to do to get back home to your family, and it is about doing what you have to do to keep your brothers in the war with you alive.

Dishonored mixes the dystopic worlds of Rapture and City 17 with the assassination-for-a-cause gameplay of Hitman and Assassin's Creed to create an experience that actually feels more original than it probably should have. Both the setting and the gameplay work well and had Dishonored been better in a few more areas it could have been a contender for one of the best games of the year.

Mario Kart 8 is everything I could have hoped it would be. After feeling a bit jaded by Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 7, it's great to see that Mario Kart 8 is quite simply the most fun I've had with a game in quite a long time.

It’s a heck of a first effort from Nintendo when it comes to level editors, with a shockingly deep number of options. However its few limitations are puzzling, and its time-based content gating makes it very slow to start creating.

While FEAR introduces some spectacular visual improvements, artificial intelligence, and an awesome new melee combat system the game is lacking the varied environments and game plays modes that would put it in the pantheon of great FPS games.

Updated graphics and player visuals are what make FIFA 14 worth picking up. The stadiums and fields look spectacular, though some minor issues with gameplay elements can bring the game back down a notch. For a title that may not have been rushed, but definitely hurried for launch, EA Sports did a good job in getting soccer fans their fix.

If you like hockey, this is the game for you.

A sequel that surpasses the original. The folks at 2K have delivered a game with more emotional and intellectual punch than the original game although you might feel a bit dirty for enjoying the game so much.

Whether you’re a two-way center, fourth line brawler, or an offensive defenseman with a nose for the net, NHL 09 is the hockey game for you.

Ori's second appearance is just as memorable as the first. The world is just as gorgeous as before and with two new zones to discover and explore, there is more to unlock for players both old and new. The difficulty has been ramped up for those wanting a better challenge, and only the best of the best will survive One Life mode.

Nier: Automata the best game from Platinum Games yet. It's an action packed game that also has an incredibly engaging story and tons of fantastic characters. This is the best action game I have played in years and one of the best games I have ever played in my life. It's gonna take a lot to take my personal Game of the Year award from Nier: Automata as its currently sitting in the top spot.

Uncharted is a tremendously fun game and one of the best gaming experiences of the year. While it borrows heavily from other games in the market it's such a nice and diverse game that it's hard to find much fault with.

Although this is the third Tom Clancy game on the Xbox 360 this year, Rainbow Six Vegas proves to be the best. This is easily one of the best games of the year, a title full of action, unique locations and plenty of terrorists to kill.

A fleshed out Ellie story that brings you right back into the rich, dismal world Naughty Dog has crafted so thoroughly, The Last of Us: Left Behind is the DLC fans of the original never even knew they wanted.

The addition of the Wii MotionPlus controller provides an incredibly realistic swing mechanic. That alone makes the purchase of Tiger Woods '10 for the Wii mandatory for anyone that has enjoyed previous versions but been frustrated by the lack of feel in the controller. You will not be disappointed!

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a true showpiece of new-gen technology. Whilst the internet argues over the matter of cross-generation games, Rift Apart avoids any such controversy since what it's doing simply isn't possible on the older hardware.

Star Wars Pinball: Balance of the Force offers three very different stages that take players to all corners of the original trilogy. Whether you're a Star Wars nut or not, Balance of the Force is a great starting point for anybody looking to get into Zen Studios' brand of pinball!

NBA 2K17 is a nice improvement over the previous year’s version with better on court action, improved graphics, and a top notch presentation. Visual Concepts offers plenty of ways to play the game and there’s something here to offer those who want to just play the game, dig deep into managing a league, or anything in between.

Single-player is a solid experience worth buying. But multiplayer is the prom queen here, and a serious Modern Warfare rival. With Infinity Ward in flux, Battlefield could emerge as the premiere military shooter in the next few years.

Don't let The World Ends With You pass you up as it is easily the best DS title released in the last two years.

It's not the grand reinvention of the dungeon crawler, but Torchlight 2 is a great deal of fun in a nice cheap package.

XCOM 2 checks many of the right boxes for a worthwhile sequel. The improved turn-based strategy gameplay and base management are the true highlights of the sequel. The game's random nature and urge for trying new strategies will keep players coming back. The game stumbles, however, at making the series accessible to a larger audience. The overwhelming difficulty is frustrating. That may be appreciated by series fans, but doesn't welcome newcomers.

This is the deepest football game to ever be released on the planet. From players transferring because of a lack of playing time, from your star quarterback cheating on his exams, if you want the most true to life, exciting football game available, NCAA Football 2005 is definitely your choice.

The Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition extras are a little light, but that shouldn't keep you away from picking up one of the best fighting games in recent memory. This version comes with a Skrillex-enhanced soundtrack and a voucher for the feature film. It's not as complete as it could have been, but this Komplete Edition is still worth snatching up for first time buyers!

The Rebels table is easily my favorite Star Wars table from Zen Studios to date. It’s simple design is deceiving, as the mission variety and experiences provide some great challenges and do a great job of introducing the world of Star Wars Rebels.

Divinity: Original Sin knows when to be whimsical, and when to take its strategic gameplay seriously. The trade-offs can be heavy. The penalties are stiff. The payoffs feel great. Old school role-playing game fans: There’s a lot here for you to take in. It’ll often fascinate and it’ll occasionally frustrate. Getting into Original Sin’s groove is a great niche to find yourself in. This Enhanced Edition on PS4 is indeed better in many, many ways.

Horizon Zero Dawn was one of the best games of the last console generation. I'm not sure I see any reason why Horizon Forbidden West won't go down as one of the best of this generation.

Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright and Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest are two great tastes that taste great together. Provided you're willing to put up with the high cost of entry. Even if you only settled on one title you'd be getting an awesome game with plenty of content that will keep you busy.

In the end, this is a game that's hard not to recommend, especially in light of the fact that 2K Sports didn't offer a competitor on the 360 or PS3 this year, so EA could have just stuck with last years game. Instead, they upped their offering to the point that taking this year off could be absolutely the worst thing that 2K could have done.

Pokemon X and Y are definitely two of the best games in the series to date.

Deathloop is one of the finest, most unique experiences in the video game space in recent memory. Sure, it’s got that familiar Arkane feel, but the amalgamation of all of Deathloop’s various influences, genuinely comedic writing, great voice acting, intricate level design, and an engaging, mysterious story that unfolds as you play make Deathloop an absolute joy to play.

With a gorgeous world, beautiful music in the background, and a surprisingly difficult challenge, Ori and the Blind Forest will take gamers on a journey that will test their reactions and wits, yet make them appreciate just what a beautiful game has been created for them.

With the release of Miles Morales, PC gamers will be able to enjoy both great Spider-Man games if they don't own a PlayStation 4 or 5. The game does need a solid machine, and if you have a NVIDIA Ada Lovelace card, you can unlock some great extra performance. It's a continuation of Marvel's Spider-Man with some new powers and some slightly different enemies, but it's solid and will give fans of the first game more of what was good to begin with.

The Witcher 2 is a highly recommended purchase for those seeking a mature and visceral role-playing experience.

Ultimately, Gone Home is the same game no matter what platform it is played on. It brings the same emotions, anxieties, and intrigue to the table now as it did years ago. There is no denying, however, that the versatility offered by the Switch version fits the calm nature of the walking sim, whether it is played docked or not—plus it’s just plain cool to experience the story in such close quarters.

With a lengthy story, exciting multiplayer modes, and plenty of white-knuckle action, Liberty City Stories offers just about everything you could want from a Grand Theft Auto game.

Laughing Jackal has raised the bar for PSP Mini developers. OMG-Z is a simple masterpiece, the kind of game that sticks with you long after the ending cinema. Part action game and part puzzler, OMG-Z is one of the best games I've played this year!

To put it succinctly, the camera system is awful.

With a reliance on unique and diverse flow of action gameplay and writing that endears players to the characters’ and their story, Devil May Cry 5 is more a blessing. It’s fun, and it brought a smile to my face more than once. That may sound like a one-off comment, but it’s something I find significant when a game can elicit an emotional reaction from me, because it shows that it made me care in more ways than one. Devil May Cry 5 is frigging great. I think I’ll leave it at that.

The game modes are not innovated, just your standard game modes, and it plays a lot like Quake online. There's nothing really new here, just a place to play Doom with real people.

This is the deepest football game to ever be released on the planet. From players transferring because of a lack of playing time, from your star quarterback cheating on his exams, if you want the most true to life, exciting football game available, NCAA Football 2005 is definitely your choice.

This PSP Tekken manages to be everything you could possibly want from a portable 3D fighting game...and a whole lot more!

Despite its relatively short length, Guacamelee! Gold Edition is definitely worth your money. You'll enjoy every second of its cartoony style and sense of humor.

Monster Hunter Rise pulls the best features from past games to create an experience that feels particularly tuned for a handheld system. With plenty of quality-of-life improvements and several fun new mechanics, Rise pushes the franchise forward while retaining all of the depth and fun that fans expect. Another stellar release from Capcom.

The basic hockey in the game is just fantastic and a joy to play, It's just a shame that the rest of the game doesn't meet the standards of the game play.

Civilization remains the preeminent turn-based strategy game. This iteration has a lot of good ideas and a few flaws in execution. The flaws will be fixed, the good ideas will stay and deepen over time.

The depth of content and similarities to past space titles may be tempting, but even its dazzling display of stars and planets can't make up for the lack of worthwhile gameplay.

Has Blizzard created a game that can last as long as Diablo 2 has? I don't know, but Diablo3 is an absolutely stellar game that everyone can enjoy, provided they've got a stable internet connection, and the time to find all that sweet, sweet loot.

When it comes to Monster Hunter, the level of depth in the game leaves a lot to talk about, and I don’t think it’s possible to capture everything in this review. I personally think this entry in the series is a fantastic addition, both for returning fans and new players like myself. The game is a tremendous amount of fun, balancing challenge and reward perfectly in a way that made me want to keep on hunting for hours on end. The PC port itself has some technical issues which detract from the overall experience, but the quality of the game underneath more than makes up for it.

Apocrypha, as an expansion, brings so many improvements to the table that it would be, going forward, impossible to imagine the game without them.

It might have taken them a few months but Sony has finally found a title to sell their new handheld system. LittleBigPlanet is more than just the best game available for the Vita, it is the best entry in the LBP series to date. It should be mandatory to have this game if you own a Vita!

DOOM Eternal is gorgeous to behold, a technological tour-de-force and an exciting new chapter in the Doom narrative, but it's not quite as fun to play as DOOM 2016. The problem is not that DOOM Eternal is too hard, rather it is too hard unless you play by its specific rules, which, for all its mechanical complexity, makes its combat chess less freeform and satisfying than its predecessors.

Part point-and-click radio play, part adventure game audiobook, Kentucky route Zero is as much of a journey in sound as it is a meditation on surrealism. I’d nominate it for the Booker Prize in literature before I’d hand it a Keighley statue at the Video Game Awards.

There is a pretty cool thrill to chasing down an enemy through a canyon and finally getting a nice kill shot on them only to be taken out by his bastard teammate before you can finish him off.

The Talos Principle is a meaningful exercise. Sure, I worked out my brain with some good old fashioned puzzle solving. But the real workout began when I started sweating questions of why-am-I-here existence, of what constitutes consciousness—and whether the end is really the end, or if it's really the beginning, or if it's somewhere along the way.

Approachable yet challenging: a perfect balance for a console-based racing game. Being able to play on both sides of the law adds to the fun, as does an easy-to-use online multiplayer mode.

After playing Ridge Racer we can never look at portable racing games the same away again.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a new entry into the tomb raiding genre that takes its cues not from the games themselves that have come before, but the films of its namesake that originally inspired it all. This is the authentic Indy experience, immersing you in a new narrative adventure worthy of the legacy of those classic movies. It is so faithful to the source material that there are times little annoyances creep in. While those annoyances betray the game achieving perfection, they don't spoil an otherwise excellent experience overall. Any fan of Indiana Jones will be well rewarded giving this game a try.

A stunning take on feudal Japan awaits players with a fresh style of leveling, a unique battle system, and a challenge that will make even the most hardened players question what they're doing taking on this game.

It's Animal Crossing through and through. Though New Leaf doesn't add a whole lot of 'new' stuff, it is still an enjoyable experience, just watch out for that troublesome 3DS battery life.

Warhorse Studios has delivered an excellent RPG and sequel. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a near total package, with great writing, acting, and a level of immersion that will have you running down every single quest in fear of missing out on a special moment. Frankly, I will be shocked if it’s not in the awards conversation at the end of the year.

With all the gore and grit of the original, The Witcher 2 once again delivers a solid and immersive return to the this rich fantasy world.

Point blank: NBA 2K13 is the most impressive sport-based video game I have ever seen. Endless customization options, gameplay modes, and a presentation style so realistic you will swear you are watching the NBA on TNT... this is as close as most of us will ever get to the NBA.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection gathers two of the best action/adventure titles of all time, and presents them in the best possible light. Limited only by your gaming PC’s capabilities, both the performance and content of these titles are nothing less than stellar. Laughs, thrills, and gorgeous presentation; beyond recommended, this collection is a must.